Greater Good Educators Winter/Spring 2025: Bridging for Belonging
Exploring Science-Based Practices for Kinder, Happier Schools Where Everyone Belongs
Overview
Greater Good Educators Program: Building Kinder, Happier Schools Where Everyone Belongs
This program from UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center provides educators an opportunity to explore the science and practical application of individual and collective well-being, helping to support the development of schools and classrooms where both students and adults thrive.
Winter/Spring 2025: Bridging for Belonging
Explore the science of empathy, humility, forgiveness, and hope to develop skills for bridging differences in schools. You will engage with three self-paced learning modules, implement selected practices in your school setting, and join a small group of educators from around the world in a synchronous online community of practice to discuss the module content, your implementation experiences, learnings, and wonderings with one another.
Who this program is for:
- Classroom teachers (preK-12)
- School site administrators
- Social-emotional learning (SEL) school-based specialists
- School mental health professionals and counselors
- Pre-service educators
- Para-educators
- Teacher educators
When you join the Winter/Spring cohort, you will:
- Discover three science-based online learning modules.
- Join up to seven virtual community of practice sessions to discuss and practice with other educators like yourself the module content, how to apply it in classrooms and schools to enhance learning and adult and student well-being, and to share ways to overcome challenges and obstacles in using the content.
- Move at your own pace through a rich resource bank of materials ranging from short videos about the science and practice of the topic, turnkey research-based practices, articles, podcasts, and more!
- Gain regular support and personal guidance from our community in both asynchronous and synchronous settings.
Apply to join by December 1, 2024.
How to Join
This program will run from January 14-April 8 2025. Please apply by December 1, 2024.
To ensure accessibility for all, this is a donation-based program. Space is limited.
Our Education Program (and the Greater Good Science Center) is funded entirely by donations and grants—our work is only possible because of you! A suggested donation of $200 would really help, but please give whatever you can to help us create and sustain more trusted, science-based programs for educators and the school communities they serve.
Please reach out to us with questions at ggsceducation@berkeley.edu.
What Educators Say
In the spring of 2024, the Education Program at the Greater Good Science Center completed the Greater Good Educators program and received feedback from a diverse group of 60 participants, representing twelve U.S. states and nine countries. The final feedback was overwhelmingly positive with 98% of the participants rating the overall program “very good” or “excellent.” Here is some of their feedback:
“It was so nice to be in a community of like-minded people and to feel myself part of a global movement.”
“It really replenished my strength and kept me going this year and I’m grateful.”
“More than I could ever use! Perfect to design a school’s wellness program around.”
“It was amazing being able to collaborate and learn from others in the same field.”
“I found my people and I can’t wait for the next session.”
“It was great to spend time with other educators who are trying to implement these practices in their classrooms as I have been.”
“This is how real change happens.”
Read more about the pilot program in this article, What Teachers Really Need to Thrive.
“A very engaging, meaningful and supportive experience with resources that will further our SEL, culture and climate, and culturally responsive work!”
Teaching and Learning for the Greater Good
Learn to put the science of social-emotional learning and mindfulness into action in an online, self-paced course.
Awe in Education: Creating Learning Environments that Inspire, Motivate, and Heal
Learn how awe enhances academic learning, motivation, and well-being in a new online, self-paced course.
What Teachers Really Need to Thrive
Teachers can find support in authentic communities with other teachers that inspire hope and courage.
Facilitating Bridging Discussions
Educators will reflect on, and learn tips about, how to best engage in “bridging differences” discussions about justice and equity in the classroom.
Courageous Connections that Challenge Your Biases
Honestly assess your personal biases and their impact, and create a plan to face the anxieties you experience about people you dislike or avoid. Next, practice courage and openness while interacting with those individuals, and reflect on what you learned.
Listening with Compassion
Students practice five listening skills and reflect on their experience.